The Christmas Token
Page 28
“Hardly,” Tate said, studying Kenzie’s strong cheekbones and creamy skin. He absently wondered if it would feel as soft as it looked. Popping his knuckles seemed the only way to keep from reaching across the aisle and indulging his curiosity by touching her cheek. When Kenzie cringed at the sound, he gripped the armrest. “Your friend, Megan - is she, by any chance, Megan Montgomery?”
“Yes. Do you know her?” Kenzie’s voice carried a note of friendly interest.
“Yep. I know her husband, Owen. He purchases cattle from us and we’ve bought horses from them for years.” Sharing mutual friends, Tate was surprised he and Kenzie hadn’t run into each other before, since the Montgomery clan liked to entertain and often hosted barbecues and dinners. “Megan’s fed us more than a time or two.”
“Wow. I’ll have to tell Megan I met you, then,” Kenzie said, making a mental note to call her friend later that evening. “When you say us and we, who else lives on the ranch with you?”
Tate laughed and the sound resonated somewhere deep and untouched inside Kenzie, drawing out her smile.
“It’s just me. Well, me and my foreman, Monte, and the ranch hands,” Tate said. “My dad moved into an assisted living facility in Richland about a month ago, so I’m still getting used to rattling around the house by myself when I’m home.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is your father unwell?” Kenzie asked, wondering what type of ailment required Tate’s father to move into an assisted living facility.
“Nothing is wrong with Pop except old age. He turned ninety on his last birthday and finally agreed it was time for him to retire,” Tate said, chuckling. He loved to see the reaction on people’s faces when he told them his father’s age.
Determined to be a bachelor his whole life, Tate’s father, Kent, didn’t know what hit him when he met a beautiful young woman who turned his world upside down.
“I can see by the look on your face, you’re trying to do the math and coming up shy a few years,” Tate teased with a knowing grin. “I’m twenty-nine. Pop was nearly sixty when he married my mama. She was in her late twenties. Most folks thought it was quite a scandal for them to get married, but they loved each other. I don’t think Pop ever recovered from losing Mama. I was about eleven when she had kidney failure and died. We all thought she was in good health, but it seemed to hit her out of the blue. It’s been just me and Pop since. He’s done remarkably well for his age, but the winter was hard on him and he was ready to move off the ranch and into town once spring arrived. He’s in great shape, but I still worry about leaving him home alone. He agreed assisted living was a good option.”
“I’m sorry, Tate. I know how hard it is to lose a parent,” Kenzie said, not wanting to bare her soul to this stranger. “Do you have any siblings?”
“Nope, but I’ve got a bunch of friends who are as close as brothers and some cousins, however many times removed, who live a few hours away in Grass Valley,” Tate said, smiling as they made small talk the rest of the trip.
When the pilot announced the plane would soon land, they both glanced at their watches. They’d made up most of the lost time.
“I’ve enjoyed this flight more than any I have in a long time, Kenzie. Thank you for talking with me,” Tate said as they landed and gathered their things in anticipation of leaving the plane.
“It was nice to visit with you, Tate. I hope you do well at the rodeo,” Kenzie said, realizing she really did want him to win. It was hard to stay cool and aloof around such a warm, inviting personality.
Despite the alarms sounding in her head to stay far away from him, Kenzie was grateful she had the opportunity to meet the charming cowboy.
“I do, too. It’s a long way to go to not at least place,” Tate said with the grin Kenzie was starting to think of as his trademark. Some irrational part of her wanted to kiss each dimple in his scruffy cheeks.
Arriving at the point where they would go their separate ways, Tate shifted around his bag then placed his free hand on Kenzie’s arm, pulling her to a stop. Taking her hand in his, he smiled, trying to ignore the powerful force surging from their joined fingers up his arm.
“I hope we run into each other again,” Tate said, sincerely hoping he would see the beautiful girl another time. Although he’d just met her, he knew she would linger in his thoughts.
“That would be nice,” Kenzie said, suddenly feeling very shy. “You never know when we’ll meet at the airport.”
“Sure don’t, since we both seem to travel frequently. Wish me luck?” Tate raised an eyebrow at Kenzie, giving her a beseeching look while shrugging his broad shoulders.
“Of course,” she said, smiling and squeezing the hand he still held. Thoughts of how nice his palm fit against hers infiltrated her resolve to walk away and not give Tate another thought. “Good luck.”
“I meant a good luck kiss,” Tate said, giving Kenzie a smile that had charmed many women into doing his will.
“Oh, I… um…” Deciding she’d probably never see the handsome rodeo star again, Kenzie acknowledged she desperately wanted to kiss him. Before she could talk herself out of doing something crazy and completely out of character, she placed a warm, moist kiss to Tate’s tempting mouth and stepped back. Her lips sizzled from the brief contact.
“Ride ‘em, cowboy,” she said, then turned and started to walk away, her cheeks hot and flushed.
“Kenzie!” Tate called after her, stunned by the impact of the kiss.
When she stopped and looked over her shoulder, he shot her a teasing grin. “Make them all dewy-eyed, Miss Dewdrop.”
Kenzie laughed and waved before racing toward baggage claim. Nearly running through the airport, she caught a taxi and made it to her meeting with five minutes to spare.
Grass Valley Cowboys Series
Meet the Thompson family of the Triple T Ranch in Grass Valley, Oregon.
Three handsome brothers, their rowdy friends, and the women who fall for them are at the heart of this contemporary western romance series.
Book 1 – The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan
Book 2 – The Cowboy’s Spring Romance
Book 3 – The Cowboy’s Summer Love
Book 4 – The Cowboy’s Autumn Fall
Book 5 – The Cowboy’s New Heart
Learnin’ The Ropes - Out of work mechanic Ty Lewis is out of options. Homeless and desperate to find work he accepts a job in the tiny community of Riley, Oregon. Leaving everything he’s ever known behind in Portland, he resolves himself to this new adventure with an elusive boss, Lex Ryan, someone he has yet to speak with or meet.
Lexi Ryan, known to her ranch hands and neighbors as Lex Jr., leaves a successful corporate career to keep the Rockin’ R Ranch running smoothly after the untimely death of her father. It doesn’t take long to discover her father did many crazy things during the last few months before he died, like hiding half a million dollars that Lexi can’t find.
Ty and Lexi are both in for a few surprises as he arrives at the ranch and begins learnin’ the ropes.
Aundy (Pendleton Petticoats Book 1) - Desperate to better her situation, Aundy Thorsen agrees to leave behind her life in Chicago to fulfill a farmer’s request for a mail-order bride in Pendleton, Oregon. When a tragic accident leaves her a widow soon after becoming a wife, Aundy takes on the challenge of learning how to manage a farm, even if it means her stubborn determination to succeed upsets a few of the neighbors.
Born and raised on the family ranch, Garrett Nash loves life in the bustling community of Pendleton in 1899. When his neighbor passes away and leaves behind a plucky widow, Garrett takes on the role of her protector and guardian. His admiration for her tenacious spirit soon turns to something more. Can he convince the strong-willed Aundy to give love another try?
Caterina (Pendleton Petticoats Book 2) - On the run from the Italian mafia in New York City, feisty Caterina Campanelli travels across the country to the small town of Pendleton, Oregon, trying to hide her past while she decides what to do abou
t her uncertain future. Seeking comfort in her cooking, she battles her attraction to one of the town’s most handsome men.
Kade Rawlings is dedicated to his work as a deputy in Pendleton. Determined to remain single and unfettered, he can’t seem to stay away from the Italian spitfire who rolls into town keeping secrets and making the best food he’s ever eaten. Using his charm, wit, and brawn to win her trust, he may just get more than he bargained for.
Coming Spring 2014!
Ilsa (Pendleton Petticoats Book 3) - One of the most talented seamstresses of her time, Ilsa Thorsen could sell her creations anywhere in the world, but she ends up on her sister’s ranch in the western town of Pendleton, Oregon. Disgusted with the dust, smells, and nearly every aspect of rural life, Ilsa wonders how she’ll survive, particularly with the arrogant Tony Campanelli constantly underfoot.
Enterprising and hardworking, Tony Campanelli embraces life in the small community of Pendleton with his sister and their friends, especially since Ilsa Thorsen moves to town. The uptight seamstress just needs to learn to have some fun and Tony’s convinced he’s the man for the job.
The QR Code Killer - Murder. Mayhem. Suspense. Romance.
Zeus is a crazed killer who uses QR Codes to taunt the cop hot on his trail.
Mad Dog Weber, a tough-as-nails member of the Seattle police force, is willing to do whatever it takes to bring Zeus down. Despite her best intentions, Maddie (Mad Dog) falls in love with her dad's hired hand, putting them both in danger.
Erik Moore is running from his past and trying to avoid the future when he finds himself falling in love with his boss' daughter. Unknowingly, he puts himself right in the path of the QR Code Killer as he struggles to keep Maddie safe.
From the waterfront of Seattle to the rolling hills of wheat and vineyards of the Walla Walla Valley, suspense and romance fly around every twist and turn.
The Coffee Girl - Almost thirty, Brenna Smith isn’t sure how much more off-track her life could be. She certainly never pictured herself living at home with her parents, working in a job she dislikes for a loathsome boss. The only bright spot in her mundane existence is the cute guy she runs into every morning as she stops for coffee.
Brock McCrae has worked hard to be able to manage his own construction company. Handsome, successful and full of life, he finds his world turned upside down as he falls for a woman he knows only as The Coffee Girl.
The Women of Tenacity Series
Welcome to Tenacity!
Tenacious, sassy women tangle with the wild, rugged men who love them in this contemporary romance series.
The short story introduction, A Prelude, is followed by three full-length novels set in the fictional town of Tenacity, Oregon.
Prelude – The Women of Tenacity
Book 1 – Heart of Clay
Book 2 – Country Boy vs. City Girl
Book 3 – Not His Type
Savvy Entertaining Series
Discover seasonal ideas for decorating, entertaining, party themes, home décor, recipes and more from Savvy Entertaining’s blogger!
Savvy Holiday Entertaining
Savvy Spring Entertaining
Savvy Summer Entertaining
Savvy Autumn Entertaining
Books by Shanna Hatfield
FICTION
HISTORICAL
Hardman Holidays Series
The Christmas Bargain
The Christmas Token
Pendleton Petticoats Series
Aundy
Caterina
CONTEMPORARY
The Coffee Girl
Learnin’ the Ropes
QR Code Killer
Rodeo Romance Series
The Christmas Cowboy
Grass Valley Cowboys Series
The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan
The Cowboy’s Spring Romance
The Cowboy’s Summer Love
The Cowboy’s Autumn Fall
The Cowboy’s New Heart
The Women of Tenacity Series
The Women of Tenacity - A Prelude
Heart of Clay
Country Boy vs. City Girl
Not His Type
NON-FICTION
Savvy Entertaining Series
Savvy Holiday Entertaining
Savvy Spring Entertaining
Savvy Summer Entertaining
Savvy Autumn Entertaining
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SHANNA HATFIELD spent ten years as a newspaper journalist before moving into the field of marketing and public relations. Self-publishing the romantic stories she dreams up in her head is a perfect outlet for her lifelong love of writing, reading, and creativity. She and her husband, lovingly referred to as Captain Cavedweller, reside in the Pacific Northwest.
Shanna loves to hear from readers. Connect with her online:
Blog: shannahatfield.com
Facebook: Shanna Hatfield’s Page
Pinterest: Shanna Hatfield
Email: shanna@shannahatfield.com
If you’d like to know more about the characters in any of her books,
visit the Book Characters page on her website
or check out her Book Boards on Pinterest.